East Greenwich, Rhode Island
We spent the greater part of today watching the kids play in the “secret place” in the neighbor’s yard.
The "secret place" is a clump of boxwood that Alex and Eleni adore. I keep wondering at what age they will no longer revel in it...in a Puff the Magic Dragon sort of sad way.
The "secret place" is a clump of boxwood that Alex and Eleni adore. I keep wondering at what age they will no longer revel in it...in a Puff the Magic Dragon sort of sad way.After dinner, we piled the kids into the car and headed south on Route 1 to Narragansett. We stopped at Smith’s Castle, which has a fascinating history that I was never taught in school in Rhode Island. I find this mildly irritating as this and the topics that are covered in the book The Mayflower (by Nathanial Philbrick) are crucial to our nation’s beginnings, and yet, they were (at least circa 1970s-1980s) not even discussed. I never even knew about King Philip’s War until college in Virginia…
But of course, I had my fill of the mythological. Here we are – we’re just a few miles (relatively speaking) away from the Freedom Trail and Plymouth Rock and I suppose that diving into the question of ‘What is Freedom?” would be more complete with a visit to Boston or Plymouth Plantation, but you’ll have to forgive me. Anyone who grew up in New England might sympathize with the inundation of Pilgrims and Revolutionary War heroes and associated field trips that I grew up with here.
And then here is Smith’s Castle – just 10 minutes down the road and it’s not even discussed in Rhode Island history classes (or at least the ones I attended). Never mind the fact that the Narragansett Indians are ignored. Sigh. I’ll get off my soapbox…
The site of the so-called Smith’s Castle was originally home to many Narragansett families. In the 1630s, the chief sachem of the Narragansett granted Roger Williams and Richard Smith use of the land for trading posts. Roger Williams sells his part to Smith and sails to England to acquire a charter for Rhode Island. The trading post prospers and Richard Smith Jr inherits his father’s estate. However, things go drastically downhill during King Philip’s War in 1675. Militias from Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Plymouth gathered near this site and attacked the Great Swamp village of the Narragansett. Forty colonial soldiers are killed, but that is nothing compared to the Narragansett’s losses. In the next year, the Narragansett retaliate by burning the trading post down.
In 1678, Smith builds what is now known as Smith’s Castle…a secret place for me...and so the story continues.
But of course, I had my fill of the mythological. Here we are – we’re just a few miles (relatively speaking) away from the Freedom Trail and Plymouth Rock and I suppose that diving into the question of ‘What is Freedom?” would be more complete with a visit to Boston or Plymouth Plantation, but you’ll have to forgive me. Anyone who grew up in New England might sympathize with the inundation of Pilgrims and Revolutionary War heroes and associated field trips that I grew up with here.
And then here is Smith’s Castle – just 10 minutes down the road and it’s not even discussed in Rhode Island history classes (or at least the ones I attended). Never mind the fact that the Narragansett Indians are ignored. Sigh. I’ll get off my soapbox…
The site of the so-called Smith’s Castle was originally home to many Narragansett families. In the 1630s, the chief sachem of the Narragansett granted Roger Williams and Richard Smith use of the land for trading posts. Roger Williams sells his part to Smith and sails to England to acquire a charter for Rhode Island. The trading post prospers and Richard Smith Jr inherits his father’s estate. However, things go drastically downhill during King Philip’s War in 1675. Militias from Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Plymouth gathered near this site and attacked the Great Swamp village of the Narragansett. Forty colonial soldiers are killed, but that is nothing compared to the Narragansett’s losses. In the next year, the Narragansett retaliate by burning the trading post down.
In 1678, Smith builds what is now known as Smith’s Castle…a secret place for me...and so the story continues.
Smith's Castle in Wickford, RI
The mass grave of 40 colonials
This one is for you, Ted! Colonial War - 1607-1775I would not have enjoyed this detour half as much if I had not read Mayflower, so I hope any AMEX students out there appreciate the importance of a good history book (it’s their summer reading) and the value of actually visiting a historical site.
Which, of course, has been the point on much of this trip.
Which, of course, has been the point on much of this trip.
We got back in the car and headed for Point Judith in Narragansett. We saw this new sign and wondered if we would be able to visit the site.
A landmark and a secret place...Neil and I got married here ten years and six days ago!
The closest I could get to a family portrait!
Point Judith from Scarborough Beach
Here's the game - you throw your flip flop as far as you can into the waves and then watch the waves retrieve it for you!We were going to stop at Newport Creamery on the way home, but Eleni fell asleep...despite our singing!
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